Photographic apparatus with deformable release means

ABSTRACT

A still camera wherein the film transporting mechanism has a rapid transport lever and the release mechanism has a deformable membrane mounted in a recess at the outer side of the lever. The deformation of the membrane results in actuation of the shutter in a single angular position of the lever. The membrane transmits motion to a shutter actuating member of the release mechanism by way of two plate-like members which rotate in response to pivoting of the lever.

its States ate Hackenberg et ai.

& 1

[ PHOTOGRAPH: APPARATUS WITH DEFORMABLE RELEASE MEANS Inventors: HubertHackenberg; Johann Putscher; Rainer Spinnler, all of Munchen, GermanyAgia Gevaert Aktiengesellschaft, Leverkusen, Germany [22] Filed: Aug.26, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 175,096

[73] Assignee:

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. l0, l970 Germany P 20 44740.9

[52] U.S. Cl. 95/31 R, 95/31 FL [51] int. Cl. G03b 19/12 [58] Field ofSearch 95/ll R, 31 R, 53 E, 95/31 FL [5 6] References 'Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 3,603,228 9/1971 Kremp 95/11 R 1 Oct. 30, 1973 FOREIGNPATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,104,234 2/1968 Great Britain 4. 95/31 R1,805,165 5/l970 Germany 95/3l R 1,597,046 1/1970 Germany 95/53 PrimaryExaminer-Samuel S. Matthews Assistant ExaminerRussell E. Adams, Jr.Att0rneyMichael S. Striker 57 ABSTRACT A still camera wherein the filmtransporting mechanism has a rapid transport lever and the releasemechanism has a deformable membrane mounted in a recess at the outerside of the lever. The deformation of the membrane results in actuationof the shutter in a single angular position of the lever. The membranetransmits motion to a shutter actuating member of the release mechanismby way of two plate-like members which rotate in response to pivoting ofthe lever.

17 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures INVENTORS HUBERT HACKENBERG JOHANN PUTSCHERREINER SPINNLER By, ADM/L ATTO RIVE Y PllOTOGRAPl-IIC APPARATUS WITHDEFORMABLE RELEASE MEANS CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates tophotographic apparatus in general, and more particularly to improvementsin release means for photographic apparatus. Still more particularly,the invention relates to improvements in release means of the typewherein the making of an exposure is initiated in response todeformation of a membrane.

The aforementioned copending application Ser. No. 749,170 of Winkler'etal. discloses a photographic apparatus wherein the housing supports afixedly mounted membrane. A minute deformation of such membrane sufficesto effect an actuation of the shutter for the purpose of making anexposure in response to closing of one or more switches, in response toenergization of an electromagnet, and/or by way of a linkage or thelike.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is to provide aphotographic apparatus wherein the deformable membrane of the camerarelease is mounted in a novel and improved way.

Another object of the invention is to provide a photographic apparatuswith a compact and relatively simple release mechanism having a whosedeformation results in the making of an exposure only upon completedtransport of the film to such an extent that the incoming scene lightimpinges upon an unexposed film frame.

A further object of the invention is to provide a photographic apparatuswith a novel and improved release mechanism wherein the membrane isadequately protected and shielded against damage and/or against themaking of accidental exposures.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedoperative connection between the deformable membrane and that componentof a release mechanism for photographic apparatus which actuates theshutter in response to deformation of the membrane.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of a photographicapparatus, particularly a still camera for use with roll film having arow of equidistant perforations, one for each film frame, whichcomprises a housing or body, film transporting means including an inputelement (preferably a rapid transport lever) which is supported by thehousing for angular movement about a predetermined axis, and releasemeans including a deformable membrane which is mounted ing beyond theouter side of the input element and/or beyond the outer side of themembrane.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theimproved photographic apparatus itself, however, both as to itsconstruction and its mode of operation, together with additionalfeatures and advantages thereof, will be best understood upon perusal ofthe following detailed description of certain specific embodiments withreference to the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an enlarged longitudinalvertical sectional view of a still camera which embodies the invention;and

FIG. 2 is'a horizontal sectional view as seen in the direction of arrowsfrom the line llll of FIG. 1, the outline of the housing being indicatedby phantom lines.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The drawing illustrates aportion of a still camera having a housing 1 which includes a lower ormain portion 1A and an upper portion or top 18. The main portion 1A, hasa horizontal top wall 1a and the upper portion 18 comprises a top wall10 and an intermediate wall 1b. The wall lb is fixed to the wall 1a. Avertical 1 bearing sleeve 2 is installed in the housing lso as to exonthe input element so as to be accessible from without the housing. Themembrane'is preferably of circular outline and its center is preferablylocated on the axis of the input element. The outer side of the inputelement is preferably provided with a recess which receives the membraneand which may further receive an annular frame surrounding the membraneand extendtend through registering openings in the walls la-lb and 10.This sleeve 2' has a flange 2a which is affixed to the underside of theintermediate wall lb. A shaft 3 is inserted into the sleeve 2 from aboveand its lower end portion meshes with a retaining screw 4 which holds itagainst axial movement relative to the bearing sleeve 2 The shaft 3defines a vertical pivot axis for a rapid transport lever 5 whichconstitutes .the input element of a film transporting mechanism. Inorderto transport the film by the length of a frame, the user of thestill camera must pivot the lever 5 in a counterclockwise direction, asviewed in FIG. 2, to thereby stress a return spring here shown as atorsion spring 10 (FIGI 1, between the walls 1b, 10) which tends tomaintain the lever 5 in the illustrated starting angular position. The

spring 10 is strong enough to automatically return the lever 5 to theillustrated angular position when the lever is released by the usershand.

That portion of the lever 5 which surrounds the shaft 3 is providedatits outer side with a recess 5a which is concentric with the bearingsleeve 2 and shaft 3 and serves to receive a deformable release memberin the form of a flexible membrane 6 having a circular outline. Thismembrane has its center on the axis of the shaft 3 and constitutes onecomponent of a composite release mechanism which can actuate the shutterin response to relatively small deformation of the membrane in order tomake an exposure. The membrane 6 overlies a plate-like first motiontransmitting member 7 which is received in the recess 5a of the lever 5and is moved downwardly with reference to the housing 1 when themembrane is deformed in response to the application of finger pressurein the axial direction of the side of the membrane 6 and/or beyond theouter side of the lever so as to protect the membrane against damage'aswell as to enable the user to rapidly locate the membrane'even when notlooking at the lever 5. The frame 8 further insures that a user is' lesslikely to make an accidental exposrue.

The motion transmitting member 7 is provided with at least one pair ofdownwardly or inwardly extending projections 7a which are disposeddiametrically opposite each other with reference to the axis of theshaft 3 (see FIG. 2).The projections 7a extend through regis-' teringopenings in the lever 5 inwardly of the recess 5a,

namely, in a bottom wall 5b of the lever 5, and through openings in thetop wall 10 of the housing portion 18.

'The'upper end portion of theshaft 3 carries a substantially E js hapedleaf spring 9 which has a median arm 9a andtwo outer arms 9b, 9c (seeparticularly FIG. 2). The median arm 9a is bent upwardly toward thebottom wall 5b of the lever 5 and surrounds a reduced neckportionof theshaft 3. The arms 9a-9c of the spring 9 guide and support a tiltableplate-like second motion transmitting member 11 of the releasemechanism. The member 11 has a centrally located opening 1 la which isconcentric with and surrounds with clearance the bearing sleeve 2 (seeFIG. 1), and a downwardly extending projection or finger 11b which isshown as being located in the three oclock position, as

viewed in FIG. 2. The median arm-9aof the leaf spring 9 extends upwardlythroughthe central opening 11a of the member ll. The projection orfinger 11b of the member 11 extends into an opening or slot 12a which'is provided in a wheel-12 having an annulus of ratchet I sponse topenetration of a tracking member (not shown) into an oncomingperforation of roll vfilm (not shown)'in the housing 1. The film isassumed to be of the type having a row of perforations, one for eachfilm frame. When the tracking member'detects and penetrates into anoncomingperforation of the film while the lever 5 is being pivoted in acounterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2, the blocking pawl 13engages the adjacent teeth 12: and thus prevents further anticlockwisepivotal movement of the lever 5 and further anticlockwise rotation ofthe parts l1, 12 at the exact.

moment when the film has been advanced by the length of a frame. Theblocking pawl 13 is pivotable on a pin l6 which further serves a fulcrumfor two additional pawls l7 and 18. The pallet of the pawl 17 isdisengaged from the wheel 12 when the latter is engaged by the pawl l3because the pawls 13, 17 are coupled .to each other by a helical spring15. A further helical spring 14 couples the pawl 13 with the pawl'l8.The latter pawl can engage a second wheel 19 which is rotatable relativeto the wheel 12'tothe extent determined by the length of an arcuate slot19a. The slot 19a receives a post 12c ,of the wheel 12. The pallet ofthe pawl 17 rides over the teeth l2t when the wheel 12 rotates the levera counterclockwise direction in response to anticlockwise pivoting ofthelever'5 but the pawl 17 prevents rotation of the wheel 12 in theclockwise direction before the teeth'12t are engaged by the pallet ofthe pawl 13. The pallet of the pawl 18 rides over the teeth of the wheel19 when'the lever 5 is being pivoted in a counterclockwise direction,but such pallet prevents'rotationof the wheel 19 in the clockwisedirection before the pallet of the pawl 13 engages the teeth l2t. Thus,the wheels 12, 19 are free to rotate in a clockwise direction only whentheir teeth are not engaged by the pallets of the pawls 17 and 18.

The wheel 12 is further provided with a lobe 12b over which the palletof the pawl 17 rides when the wheel 12- is rotated by the lever 5 ina'counterclo'ckwis'e direction. However, if the spring 10 tends to pivotthe lever 5 (and to thus rotate the wheel 12) in a clockwise directionbefore the blocking pawl 13 has been caused to engage the teeth l2t, thepallet of the pawl 17 extends into the path of movement of the lobe l2band prevents theilever 5 from returning all the way to its startingangular position which is shown in FIG. 2. The lobe 12b constitutes asafety feature which indicates to the user that the film was notadvanced by the full length of a frame; such safety feature is desirablefor the event that the user accidentally releases the lever 5 prior tocompleted transport of the film by the full length of a frame. However,if the transport of film by the full length of a frame is completed, thepawl 13 is caused to engage the teeth l2t and disengages the pawls l7,l8'from the wheels 12 and 19. The spring 10 is then free to return thelever 5 all the way to its starting angualr position. The pawl 13 isdisengaged from the wheel 12 in response to deformation of the membrane6 (i.e., in response to completion of an exposure) to thereby free meansfor blocking the film transporting mechanism upon completed transport ofthe film by the length of a frame and prior to the making of thenext-following exposure. e

The length of the slot 19a in the wheel 19 is such that, when the lever5 is released prematurely (prior to completed transport of the filmby'the length of a' frame), the lobe 12b of the wheel 12 can move intoengagement with the pallet of the pawl 17 while the wheel 12 rotateswith reference to the wheel 19. This is fully described in GermanUtility Model No. 7,01 1,290 to which reference may be had if necessary.During such rotary movement of the wheel 12 with reference to the wheel19, the latter wheel is held against rotation with the wheel 12 by thepallet of the pawl 18.,It will be noted that the teeth l2t neednotextend all the way around the periphery of the wheel 12. The palletof the pawl 18 is automatically disengaged from the teeth of the wheel19 when the lever 5 completes the transport of the film by the fulllength of a frame because the aforementioned tracking member thenpenetrates into the oncoming perforation of film and enables the pawl 1320, 21, 22 and 23. The gear 23 Carries motion transmitting pins 23awhich extend into an axially movable coupling element 24 cooperatingwith conventional vanes at the upper end of the reel R to rotate thelatter when the lever 5 is being pivoted in a counterclockwisedirection, as viewed in FIG. 2. The coupling element 24 is biasedagainst the adjacent end face of the reel R by a helical spring 24a. Theaforementioend one-way clutch of the film transporting mechansim insuresthat the coupling element 24 rotates the takeup' reel R only when thelever 5 pivots in a counterclockwise direction. The parts -24 are at astandstill when the lever 5 pivots clockwise under the action of thereturn spring 10.

When the lever S dwells intheillustrated starting angular position, theopeningor slot 12a of the wheel 12 registers with a motion receivingshutter actuating member 25, i.e., the member is located in the path ofmovement of the finger 11b on the second motion transmitting member 11.When the membrane 6 is deformed to move the first motion transmittingmember 7 downwradly, the projections 7a'displace the second motiontransmitting member 11 and the finger 11b then actuates the'motionreceiving member 25 which releases the shutter so that the camera makesan expo sure. However, when the lever 5 is moved out of the illustratedstarting angular position, the finger 11b of the motion transmittingmember 11- is out of register with the motion receiving member 25; thefinger 11b is then located at a level above the inclined face of a camor abutment 26. Thus, an exposure can be made only when the lever 5dwells in its starting angular position; in all other angular positionsof the lever 5, the finger 11b is out of register with and cannotactuate the motion receiving member 25. If the membrane 6 is deformedwhile the lever 5 dwells in a position other than the illustratedstarting angular position, the finger 11b moves into abutment with theinclined face of the abutment or cam 26. This cam is positioned in sucha way that the tip of the finger 11b does not extend beyond the slot 12awhen the membrane 6 is deformed. However, such deformation of themembrane 6 results in a tilting of the motion transmitting member 11against the opposition of the leaf spring 9. The member 11 then pivotsat 110 under the action of the arm 9a of the leaf spring 9.

An important advantage of such mounting of the membrane 6 that itscenter is located on the axis of the shaft 3 is that the membraneoccupies room which is readily available in the rapid transport lever 5.The projections 7a of the motion transmitting member 7 insure propertransmission of motion to the member 11 in response to deformation ofthe membrane 6 despite the.

fact that the parts 6, 7 and 11 of the release mechanism are concentricwith each other and coaxial with the shaft 3. Savings in space are-ofparticular importance in relatively small and inexpensive still cameras.

The just described camera is susceptible of many modifications withoutdeparting from thespirit of the invention. For example, a simplifiedversion of the camera will be furnished without the lobe 12b, withoutthe pawl 17 and/or without the slot 19a and pawl 18. Also, the member 11and/or 25 of the release mechanism can be replaced with an electricswitch which is normally open and can be closed in response todeformation of the diaphragm 6 (preferably only in the starting angularposition of the lever 5.) to thereby complete the circuit of anelectrically or electronically operated shutter.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge,readily adapt it for various applications without omitting featureswhich fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic andspecific aspects of our contribution to the art and, therefore, suchadaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within themeaning and range of equivalence of the claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended claims:

1. In a photographic apparatus, particularly in a still camera, acombination comprising a housing; film transporting means including aninput element supported by said housing for angular mpvement about apredetermined axis; and release means including a deformable membranesecured to and sharing the angular movement of said input element, saidmembrane being accessible for deformation from without said housingwhereby the deformation of said membrane initiates the making of anexposure said release means further including a plurality of motiontransmitting members movably mounted in said housing and comprising afirst motion transmitting member arranged to change its position inresponse to deformation of said membrane and a second motiontransmitting member arranged to change its position in response to saidchange of posi tion of said first motion transmitting member.

2. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said input element is alever which is pivotable about said axis in two directions and isarranged to effect the forward transport of film in response to angularmovement in one of said directions.

3. A combination as defined in claim 2, wherein said membrane has asubstantially circular outline and a central portion located on saidaxis.

4. A combination as defined in claim 2, wherein said lever has anexposed outer side which is provided with a recess and said membrane ismounted in said recess.

5. A combination as defined in claim 4, further comprising a framereceived in said recess and surrounding said membrane, said membranehaving an exposed outer side and said frame extending outwardly beyondat least one of said outer sides.

6. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said first motiontransmitting member is inwardly adjacent to said membrane position with,and said second motion transmitting member is inwardly adjacent to saidfirst motion transmitting member, one of said members having a pluralityof projections extending toward the other of said members 'to change theposition of said second member with reference to said housing inresponse to deformation of said membrane and the resulting change in theposition of said first member.

7. A combination as defined in claim 6, further comprising drive meansfor rotating said second member with said input element, said releasemeans further comprising a motion receiving member which is movablymounted. in said housing and is movable by said second member inresponse to deformation of said membrane in a single angular position ofsaid input element.

8. A combination as defined in claim 7, wherein said second motiontransmitting member has a central portion having its center located onsaid axis and a projec- 7 tion which can reach said motion receivingmember in response to movement of said second member with reference tosaid housing in said single angular posiion of said input element. v

9. Acombination as defined in claim 8, further comprising abutment meansprovided in said housing and located in the path of movement of saidprojection when said second member is caused to move with reference tosaid housing in response-to deformation of said membrane while saidinput element dwells in an angular position other than said singleposition.

' 10. A combination as defined in claim 6, wherein said second motiontransmitting member is a plate-like body which is tiltable withreference to said housing, and further comprising resilient meansmounted in said housing to store energy in response to tilting of saidsecond member. i

,11. A combination as defined in claim 10, wherein said resilient meanscomprises at least one leaf spring.

12. A combination as defined in claim 6, further comprising drive meansfor rotating said second motion transmitting member. in response toangular movement of said input element in at least one of twodirections, said drive means comprising a wheel which receives torquefrom said input element and transmits torque to said second member, saidrelease means further comprising a motion receiving member which ismovable by said second member in response to deformation of saidmembrane in a single angular position of said input element and saidsecond member.

13. A combination as defined in claim 12, wherein said wheel has anopening and said second motion transmitting member. comprises aprojection which extends intosaid opening and .is movable beyond saidopening to engage and move said motion receiving member in said singleangular position of said second member. I

14. A combination as defined in claim 13, further comprising blockingmeans actuatable to hold said wheel against further rotation in responseto a predetermined angular displacement of said input element from saidsingle position and in said one direction.

15. A combination as defined in claim 14, wherein said blocking means isactuatable by the film in said housing.

16. A-combination as defined in cliam 12, wherein said film transportingmeans further comprises at least one gear and one-way clutch means forrotating said gear in response to angular movement of said wheel in saidone direciton 17. A combination as defined in claim 16, furthercomprising biasing means for urging said input element and said wheel tosaid single angular position and means for holding said wheel againstrotation in the other of said directions during angular movement of saidinput element from said single position in said one direction and to asecond angular position which said input element reaches upon completedlengthwise transport of the film through a predetermined distance.

1. In a photographic apparatus, particularly in a still camera, acombination comprising a housing; film transporting means including aninput element supported by said housing for angular movement about apredetermined axis; and release means including a deformable membranesecured to and sharing the angular movement of said input element, saidmembrane being accessible for deformation from without said housingwhereby the deformation of said membrane initiates the making of anexposure, said release means further including a plurality of motiontransmitting members movably mounted in said housing and comprising afirst motion transmitting member arranged to change its position inresponse to deformation of said membrane and a second motiontransmitting member arrangEd to change its position in response to saidchange of position of said first motion transmitting member.
 2. Acombination as defined in claim 1, wherein said input element is a leverwhich is pivotable about said axis in two directions and is arranged toeffect the forward transport of film in response to angular movement inone of said directions.
 3. A combination as defined in claim 2, whereinsaid membrane has a substantially circular outline and a central portionlocated on said axis.
 4. A combination as defined in claim 2, whereinsaid lever has an exposed outer side which is provided with a recess andsaid membrane is mounted in said recess.
 5. A combination as defined inclaim 4, further comprising a frame received in said recess andsurrounding said membrane, said membrane having an exposed outer sideand said frame extending outwardly beyond at least one of said outersides.
 6. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said first motiontransmitting member is inwardly adjacent to said membrane position with,and said second motion transmitting member is inwardly adjacent to saidfirst motion transmitting member, one of said members having a pluralityof projections extending toward the other of said members to change theposition of said second member with reference to said housing inresponse to deformation of said membrane and the resulting change in theposition of said first member.
 7. A combination as defined in claim 6,further comprising drive means for rotating said second member with saidinput element, said release means further comprising a motion receivingmember which is movably mounted in said housing and is movable by saidsecond member in response to deformation of said membrane in a singleangular position of said input element.
 8. A combination as defined inclaim 7, wherein said second motion transmitting member has a centralportion having its center located on said axis and a projection whichcan reach said motion receiving member in response to movement of saidsecond member with reference to said housing in said single angularposiion of said input element.
 9. A combination as defined in claim 8,further comprising abutment means provided in said housing and locatedin the path of movement of said projection when said second member iscaused to move with reference to said housing in response to deformationof said membrane while said input element dwells in an angular positionother than said single position.
 10. A combination as defined in claim6, wherein said second motion transmitting member is a plate-like bodywhich is tiltable with reference to said housing, and further comprisingresilient means mounted in said housing to store energy in response totilting of said second member.
 11. A combination as defined in claim 10,wherein said resilient means comprises at least one leaf spring.
 12. Acombination as defined in claim 6, further comprising drive means forrotating said second motion transmitting member in response to angularmovement of said input element in at least one of two directions, saiddrive means comprising a wheel which receives torque from said inputelement and transmits torque to said second member, said release meansfurther comprising a motion receiving member which is movable by saidsecond member in response to deformation of said membrane in a singleangular position of said input element and said second member.
 13. Acombination as defined in claim 12, wherein said wheel has an openingand said second motion transmitting member comprises a projection whichextends into said opening and is movable beyond said opening to engageand move said motion receiving member in said single angular position ofsaid second member.
 14. A combination as defined in claim 13, furthercomprising blocking means actuatable to hold said wheel against furtherrotation in response to a predetermined angular displacement of saidinput element from said single positiOn and in said one direction.
 15. Acombination as defined in claim 14, wherein said blocking means isactuatable by the film in said housing.
 16. A combination as defined incliam 12, wherein said film transporting means further comprises atleast one gear and one-way clutch means for rotating said gear inresponse to angular movement of said wheel in said one direction.
 17. Acombination as defined in claim 16, further comprising biasing means forurging said input element and said wheel to said single angular positionand means for holding said wheel against rotation in the other of saiddirections during angular movement of said input element from saidsingle position in said one direction and to a second angular positionwhich said input element reaches upon completed lengthwise transport ofthe film through a predetermined distance.